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Goin’ South? DMPs are still available

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today that remaining Deer Management Permits (DMPs) will be available to hunters in several Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) beginning Nov. 1.

DMPs allow hunters to harvest extra antlerless deer and are issued for specific WMUs to control deer populations. In some WMUs, all applicants received permits during the initial application process and the DMP target was not reached. In these units, DEC will reopen the DMP application process on a first-come, first-served basis. Hunters may apply for up to two additional DMPs in these WMUs at any DEC license sales outlet on Nov. 1.

Leftover DMPs are not available by phone, mail, or internet. Applications must be made at license issuing outlets. Applicants that previously paid the $10 DMP application fee during the initial application period, or who are exempt from the application fee, will not be charged for this additional application. Hunters that did not previously apply for a deer management permit are required to pay the $10 application fee.

Additionally, Bonus DMPs are available for hunters who successfully take an antlerless deer in WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J, or 8C.

For WMU locations, refer to the 2018-19 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or visit DEC’s website.

During this extended application period, DEC will issue DMPs for an individual WMU until the target quota is achieved. The status of permits will be reviewed each night, and as individual units are filled they will be removed from the list of those available effective the following day. A list of units with available leftover DMPs will routinely be updated on DEC’s website or via the DMP Hotline at 1-866-472-4332.

In these areas, DEC encourages hunters to prioritize does, take them early in the season, and opt to voluntarily pass on a young buck.

Those with sufficient meat in their freezers are encouraged to share extra venison with friends, neighbors and the Venison Donation Coalition (link leaves DEC website). Since 1999, the program has helped to feed the hungry with more than 330 tons of highly nutritious venison, the equivalent of 2.8 million meals served.

DEC would also like to remind hunters of the importance of reporting their harvest to help DEC manage New York’s wildlife populations. Harvest reporting is critical to wildlife management, and by regulation, hunters must report their harvest of deer, bear, and turkey within seven days of taking the animal. DEC encourages hunters to, “Take it, tag it, and then report it.”